NBA

1 January 1970

NBA Slideshow

FILE - In this Dec. 14, 2015, file photo, Dallas Mavericks team owner Mark Cuban shouts in the direction of an official during an NBA basketball game against the Phoenix Suns, in Dallas. The Mavericks have hired outside counsel to investigate allegations of inappropriate conduct by former team president Terdema Ussery in a Sports Illustrated report that described a hostile workplace for women. Cuban told the magazine that the team was establishing a hotline for counseling and support services for past and current employees. He is mandating sensitivity training for all employees, himself included. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez, File)

FILE - In this Dec. 14, 2015, file photo, Dallas Mavericks team owner Mark Cuban shouts in the direction of an official during an NBA basketball game against the Phoenix Suns, in Dallas. The Mavericks have hired outside counsel to investigate allegations of inappropriate conduct by former team president Terdema Ussery in a Sports Illustrated report that described a hostile workplace for women. Cuban told the magazine that the team was establishing a hotline for counseling and support services for past and current employees. He is mandating sensitivity training for all employees, himself included. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez, File)

Report: FBI’s case could reveal detailed information about cheating in college hoops recruiting

The dealings of NBA agent Andy Miller and former business associate Christian Dawkins could unravel a lot of key information in college basketball over the next several months. According to a report from Pete Thamel and Pat Forde of Yahoo Sports, financial records, documents and wiretaps from Miller and Dawkins have given a surprising level

Report: FBI’s case could reveal detailed information about cheating in college hoops recruiting

The dealings of NBA agent Andy Miller and former business associate Christian Dawkins could unravel a lot of key information in college basketball over the next several months. According to a report from Pete Thamel and Pat Forde of Yahoo Sports, financial records, documents and wiretaps from Miller and Dawkins have given a surprising level

Cuban fined $600K for tanking comments

Mark Cuban was handed a huge fine by the NBA after suggesting the Dallas Mavericks should tank.

Kawhi Leonard (L) of the San Antonio Spurs battles for the ball against Trevor Ariza of the Houston Rockets during Game Three of the NBA Western Conference Semi-Finals at Toyota Center on May 5, 2017 in Houston, Texas

Kawhi Leonard (L) of the San Antonio Spurs battles for the ball against Trevor Ariza of the Houston Rockets during Game Three of the NBA Western Conference Semi-Finals at Toyota Center on May 5, 2017 in Houston, Texas (AFP Photo/RONALD MARTINEZ)

Popovich would be 'surprised' if Leonard returns for Spurs this season

Gregg Popovich is not very optimistic San Antonio Spurs forward Kawhi Leonard will see the court again this NBA season.

Report: Kevin Durant, Warriors to Play Preseason Game in Seattle vs. Kings

Kevin Durant will return to Seattle for the first time since the end of the 2007-08 season when the Warriors play host to the Kings at Key Arena Oct. 6 for a preseason game, Ailene Voisin of The Sacramento Beereports.

Voisin adds that the contract for the game has not been signed yet, but that is just a formality.

There has not been an NBA game in Seattle since the SuperSonics' home finale for the 2007-08 season, when they defeated the Mavericks 99-95 April 13, 2008. In that game, a rookie Durant put up 19 points, five rebounds, three assists, two blocks and a steal for the home team.

Durant, and the Sonics moved to Oklahoma City the following season and became the Thunder. In his one year as a Sonic, Durant won Rookie of the Year while averaging 20.3 points and 4.4 rebounds.

The Kings were nearly moved to Seattle in 2013. Now-Clippers owner Steve Ballmer and Chris Hansen attempted to buy the Kings with the intent to move them to Seattle, but then-NBA commissioner David Stern gave Sacramento a chance to put together a group of investors to match the sales price.

LeBron on NBA playoff re-seeding: "Let's not get too crazy"

LOS ANGELES, CA - FEBRUARY 18: LeBron James #23 of Team Lebron goes for the lay up in the first quarter during the 2018 NBA All-Star Game at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California on February 18, 2018. (Photo by Philip Pacheco/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images)

LeBron opposed to possible plan to change NBA playoff format

LeBron opposed to possible plan to change NBA playoff format

LeBron opposed to possible plan to change NBA playoff format

LeBron opposed to possible plan to change NBA playoff format

LeBron James warms up during the NBA All-Star Game 2018 at Staples Center on February 18, 2018 in Los Angeles, California

LeBron James warms up during the NBA All-Star Game 2018 at Staples Center on February 18, 2018 in Los Angeles, California

LeBron James warms up during the NBA All-Star Game 2018 at Staples Center on February 18, 2018 in Los Angeles, California

LeBron James warms up during the NBA All-Star Game 2018 at Staples Center on February 18, 2018 in Los Angeles, California (AFP Photo/KEVORK DJANSEZIAN)

Gregg Popovich Says He'll Be Surprised if Kawhi Leonard Returns This Season

"You know, with Kawhi, I'll be surprised if he returns this season," Popovich said at Spurs practice on Wednesday. Asked to clarify why he feels that way, Popovich said, "We only have 'x' number of games left in the season, and he's still not ready to go.

"If by some chance he is, it's gonna be pretty late in the season and it's going to be a pretty tough decision, you know, how late you bring somebody back. So that's why I'm just trying to be honest and logical. I'll be surprised if he gets back this year."

Popovich did not say that the team was prepared to officially rule Leonard out for the year.

Leonard has not played since Jan. 13 as he's dealt with a quad injury that's persisted all season. The two-time All-Star has played in just nine games this season, averaging 16.2 points, 4.7 rebounds and 2.3 assists. He did not make his season debut until Dec. 12 and he did not play in more than two consecutive games.

Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN.com reports that Leonard has been medically cleared to return and that it is up to Leonard to determine when he will be back. Wojnarowski adds that Leonard sought a second opinion on his injury in New York with Spurs personnel accompanying him.

San Antonio announced on Jan. 17 that Leonard was out "indefinitely," and the team has not provided a timetable for his return since then. The Spurs have 23 games left in the season and have their last regular-season game on April 11.

Despite Leonard's prolonged absence, the Spurs have managed to stay afloat in the competitive Western Conference. San Antonio is 35-24 and sits third in the West, trailing just the Rockets and Warriors. San Antonio returns to the floor after the All-Star break in Denver on Friday night.

The 2014 Finals MVP was named First-Team All-NBA in both the 2016 and 2017 seasons. He finished third in MVP voting last season, behind only Russell Westbrook and James Harden, by averaging 25.5 points, 5.8 rebounds and 3.5 assists. He is a two-time winner (2015 and 2016) of the NBA's Defensive Player of the Year award.

FILE - In this Saturday, Feb. 17, 2018 file photo, Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban looks on from the crowd during NBA All-Star Saturday in Los Angeles. The NBA has fined outspoken Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban $600,000 for comments about tanking during a podcast with Hall of Famer Julius Erving. Commissioner Adam Silver said the fine was for "public statements detrimental to the NBA." (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello, File)

FILE - In this Saturday, Feb. 17, 2018 file photo, Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban looks on from the crowd during NBA All-Star Saturday in Los Angeles. The NBA has fined outspoken Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban $600,000 for comments about tanking during a podcast with Hall of Famer Julius Erving. Commissioner Adam Silver said the fine was for "public statements detrimental to the NBA." (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello, File)

Mark Cuban’s fine third-largest known fine in NBA history

Mavericks aren't out of league's crosshairs, either

Mark Cuban’s fine third-largest known fine in NBA history

Mavericks aren't out of league's crosshairs, either

Pierce and Bosh explain the evolution of NBA "Super Teams"

Chris Bosh and Paul Pierce sat down with Yahoo Sports to talk about the genesis of the "Super Team."

Pierce and Bosh explain the evolution of NBA "Super Teams"

Chris Bosh and Paul Pierce sat down with Yahoo Sports to talk about the genesis of the "Super Team."

Pierce and Bosh explain the evolution of NBA "Super Teams"

Chris Bosh and Paul Pierce sat down with Yahoo Sports to talk about the genesis of the "Super Team."

Pierce and Bosh explain the evolution of NBA super-teams

Chris Bosh and Paul Pierce sat down with Yahoo Sports to talk about the genesis of the super-team

Chris Bosh Admits Boston Was ‘Toughest’ Place He Played In NBA

The Miami Heat and Boston Celtics had a few memorable NBA playoff series in the early part of the decade, and... Read More »

Where have all the NBA rivalries gone?

Chris Bosh and Paul Pierce sat down with Yahoo Sports to talk why everyone plays nice in the league these days.

Where have all the NBA rivalries gone?

Chris Bosh and Paul Pierce sat down with Yahoo Sports to talk why everyone plays nice in the league these days.

Where have all the NBA rivalries gone?

Chris Bosh and Paul Pierce sat down with Yahoo Sports to talk why everyone plays nice in the league these days.

Where have all the NBA rivalries gone?

Chris Bosh and Paul Pierce sat down with Yahoo Sports to talk why everyone plays nice in the league these days.

NBA team owner fined AU$840k for tanking support

NBA team owner fined AU$840k for tanking support

Mark Cuban, pictured in 2017, that it would be in the Dallas Mavericks' best interest to lose for the rest of the season in order to improve their position for the NBA draft

Mark Cuban, pictured in 2017, that it would be in the Dallas Mavericks' best interest to lose for the rest of the season in order to improve their position for the NBA draft (AFP Photo/Kevin C. Cox)

Mark Cuban, pictured in 2017, that it would be in the Dallas Mavericks' best interest to lose for the rest of the season in order to improve their position for the NBA draft

Mark Cuban, pictured in 2017, that it would be in the Dallas Mavericks' best interest to lose for the rest of the season in order to improve their position for the NBA draft

The Sports Illustrated report on sexual harassment within the Mavericks organization came as no surprise to someone familiar with the topic — one of the attorneys involved in the harassment lawsuit against the Knicks 11 years ago.

Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban has been fined $600,000 by the NBA for comments on tanking. It is the largest fine he has ever received from the league.

"I'm probably not supposed to say this, but, like, I just had dinner with a bunch of our guys the other night, and here we are, you know, we weren't competing for the playoffs. I was like, 'Look, losing is our best option,'" Cuban said on the Dr. J podcast with Hall of Famer Julius Irving.

"(Commissioner Adam Silver) would hate hearing that, but I at least sat down and I explained it to them," he added. "And I explained what our plans were going to be this summer, that we're not going to tank again. This was, like, a year-and-a-half tanking, and that was too brutal for me. But being transparent, I think that's the key to being kind of a players owner and having stability."

The Mavericks are 18–40 on the season, which is currently the third-worst record in the NBA. The team with the worst record at the end of the season has a 25% chance of landing the No. 1 overall pick at the NBA Draft lottery. Changes have been implemented after 2019 so that the percentage drops to 14%.

Mavericks owner Mark Cuban told ESPN he deserves the blame for keeping an ex-employee on staff after two alleged domestic violence incidents, a day after Sports Illustrated'sinvestigation revealed the franchise's hostile workplace environment.

Mavs.com reporter Earl K. Sneed was fired before the SI story came out after he was originally suspended. He was involved in a 2011 domestic dispute that resulted in his arrest at the Mavericks' facility. He also became violent with a coworker he was dating in 2014 in a second incident.

Cuban told ESPN he took the blame and that it was his final decision to to keep Sneed on staff. Cuban said "in hindsight," he would have fired Sneed and made him still go to counseling after the first incident. He said he regretted not following up with police to discover the details.

Using a Dallas police report from the 2011 incident, SI reported that Sneed's then-girlfriend suffered a fractured wrist and bruises on her arm and chest. Sneed pleaded guilty in 2012 to misdemeanor charges of family violence assault and interference with emergency request. After paying a fine and completing community service and an anger management program, the charges were dismissed.

"It was bad, but we made a mistake about the whole thing and didn't pursue what happened with the police after the fact," Cuban told ESPN. "So we got it mostly from Earl's perspective, and because we didn't dig in with the details — and obviously it was a horrible mistake in hindsight — we kind of, I don't want to say took his word for it, but we didn't see all the gruesome details until just recently. I didn't read the police report on that until just (Tuesday), and that was a huge mistake obviously."

Cuban said when it came to the second incident, he didn't want to fire him because Sneed "would just go out there and get hired again and do it somewhere else." Sneed was not allowed to be with any other woman in the organization or a business setting after the second incident, and he was also forbidden from dating coworkers, according to Cuban. But Cuban said his real mistake was not realizing the impact this would have on other employees at the workplace.

Sneed released a statement Wednesday denying the report's characterization of the incidents and admitting that he signed a contract after the second incident prohibiting him one-on-one contact with female coworkers.

LeBron James Says There's No Need to Change Playoff Format: 'Let's Not Get Too Crazy'

Days after he captained his team to a victory in the revamped All-Star Game, LeBron James said he does not think the NBA should alter its playoff format or do away with the two conference format.

"Our league has been built the right way way as far as when it comes to the postseason," James said after the Cavs practice Wednesday. "There's been dominant conferences throughout time...In the 80's, you had the Lakers who dominated the league at one point, then you had Boston who dominated the league. In the 90's, you had Chicago who dominated the league. San Antonio has had its run. We had our run in the East with Miami. Golden Stat is having [their run].

"It just changes the landscape of the history of the game if you start messing with seedings and playoffs...It's cool to mess around with the All-Star Game—and we proved that you could do that—but let's not get too crazy about the playoffs. You have Eastern Conference, you have Western Conference."

The West has produced better top-end teams and has been the deeper conference in recent seasons, which has resulted in a growing chorus of calls to alter the league's current playoff format, in which the top eight teams from each conference qualify. The most popular hypothetical alternative is a system in which the league's top 16 teams by record—no matter which conference the teams are in, or where they're located geographically—make the playoffs.

Of course, James has benefited from spending the entirety of his career in the East, particularly recently. James has reached the finals seven straight times—four straight with the Heat and three straight with the Cavs.

Cleveland, which traded six players away and added four at the trade deadline, won four straight before the All-Star break to get to 34-22. The Cavs sit third in East behind the Celtics (40-19) and Raptors (41-16).

What Does HOLDAT Mean? Let Carlos Boozer and Nate Robinson Explain

Former teammates Carlos Boozer and Nate Robinson have officially launched their new NBA podcast, HOLDAT, with Sports Illustrated. The podcast explores the league from a players' perspective both on and off the floor. Boozer and Robinson teamed up in Chicago during the 2012–13 season, where they had the privilege of playing alongside one of the most animated players in the NBA, Joakim Noah, who helped spark a movement. So what does HOLDAT mean? Boozer and Robinson each explain their first experience with the term HOLDAT.

Carlos Boozer

HOLDAT for me came from my boy Sticks, as we call him, Joakim Noah. So we're in a battle with Boston. At the time I think we're like 1 or 2 in the East and Boston was 1, 2, or 3 in the East...We're in Boston, him and Kevin Garnett have their own battles throughout their career. They had a seven-game series, they've had different things they've competed against each other with, so they have an individual matchup. KG being a very good defender, Joakim being a very good defender.

They were battling it out, they were both struggling. We go to the fourth quarter, two minutes to go, we're down by two, D. Rose drives to the hoop and kicks it out to Joakim Noah—and if you haven't seen my man's jump shot, it's like a cyclone, that thing be spinning all types of directions—and KG tried to close out on him. Joakim hit the shot, and he screamed out 'HOLDAT!' right in KG's face. Tied the ballgame up, gave us an opportunity to win the game, we ended up winning in overtime. And that's the moment for me when HOLDAT arrived.

After that, after every shot I took—after every shot that Nate took, after every shot Joakim, Taj Gibson, Luol Deng, D. Rose, Rip Hamilton, whoever it was—whoever shot the ball from then on, I was screaming out 'HOLDAT' for myself or for my teammates.

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Nate Robinson

When I was on the Knicks, Joakim Noah was on the Bulls. He was at the free-throw line, and I remember his shoes were horrible. He had some chicken-hawk shoes that was terrible. I was like, 'Bro, you need to take them off your feet. That's a disgrace.' He's at the free-throw line, and I'm like, 'Aww, he don't shoot free throws. These is off, these is off.'

He went to the line, he knocked down not one but two free throws. And the second free throw he told me to 'HOLDAT!' I didn't understand. He was like, 'Yeah, HOLDAT.' Every time after that, I was like, 'Oh, okay. After a bucket you yell that. That's lit.' So when I got to the Bulls I couldn't wait to scream out HOLDAT with my guys.